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— | zioth:turn:225 [2019-05-26 16:21] (current) – created eli | ||
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+ | turn: 225 | ||
+ | title: The Gatekeepers of the Mouth | ||
+ | start: 577/06/12 07:00 | ||
+ | end: 577/06/12 15:00 | ||
+ | played_date: | ||
+ | posted_date: | ||
+ | weather: warm | ||
+ | location: in Gaping | ||
+ | xp_aldet: 44600 | ||
+ | xp_corbyn: 51500 | ||
+ | xp_gil: 38050 | ||
+ | xp_halaren: 52400 | ||
+ | xp_voss: 44400 | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Gil, Voss, Corbyn and Halaren met up again the next morning with a renewed sense of urgency. Fovery' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren looked to see if Corbyn had a reaction to the news of. "Do we want to meet them? Well, we might run into them anyway. Good lady, " he spoke to their guide, "where might we find crystals in this place? If we are to prepare for any eventuality, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wish I knew. Glass is rare in Gaping, and the villagers are hesitant to give up the few bits they have. There remains a piece I may be able borrow again in a pinch, but I would rather not break it if we didn't have to." She paused. "I had to smash the last piece. Maybe that blade could do the trick if you're just trying to defend yourself." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Something strange was happening to Halaren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Voss spoke quietly from behind Corbyn. "I do not like that these Polinakas visit for the first time as soon as we leave their camp. If you wish to stay here and talk, I will see what they are about." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn shook his head and whispered, "We go together." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet was forcing a few blinks as the young man started to speak, as if trying to clear her vision. A grin erupted on her face at his question before quickly being replaced with a more measured expression. "The Mouth? Yes, it's nearby. Quite significant to the locals; they have a whole set of superstitions and tales about it. Rituals too." Her hand moved as if indicating three items placed before her. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn listened with keen interest. "The cave is in fact the reason for our visit here. Master Arnell was referred to the place by an old sage who believes the site may be a hitherto undocumented archeological site. If that is true, we suspect the Mouth is a truly ancient site that later became the subject more recent folklore by the current residents." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some yards away, Halaren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | And those bizarre Orithorans, who were so tightly knit a community and so regulated by rules and laws, did they have a true god? Maybe Morenth wasn't a true god, either. Maybe they all used magic, like the evil sorcerer of Maelbourg and the godless wizards of Brundash with the power to mold the world to their mortal wills. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet nodded as the man spoke. "Yes, I don't know how they would react to outsiders entering the cave, but I'd suspect they are protective of it." She stared down at the gravel and trampled scrub grass for a few steps before looking ahead, casually scanning the small buildings. Halaren muttered and returned to the conversation. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So you're not against it? Good. We will investigate quickly. I assure you I have no further interest in studying the Polinaka teachings, at least at the present. But given that we are preparing to enter the Mouth, any deviation from the norm in the local populace concerns me. I do not want any unpleasant surprises from any of the residents." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The group had been walking through Gaping for some time, and had made their way to the side of town closest to the Mouth. Shortly, Voss nudged Corbyn. He gestured behind them and to either direction. In contrast to the people of Gaping, who were making an obvious effort to ignore the situation and continue with their mundane tasks, Polinakas were actively converging on the group' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn whispered to Voss. "No hand on your sword hilt, but be ready and watch our backs." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, my. I hope this isn't going to be trouble." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Polinakas in front watched Corbyn approach, while the other groups closed in from the back and sides, stopping a fair distance away. Ylauneropai got to the point right away. "What is your business here? I give you a chance to tell us the truth." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn stopped and smiled at the Polinaka as he ran through a series of potential answers and scenarios in his mind. Why not start with the most far-fetched? | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I cannot speak for the lady," he nodded toward Aldet, "for she is just another traveler and a recent acquaintance. Her truth is her own. My companions and I are seekers of the Zioth, in search of a second path beyond the the ninety first dragon. A brother of yours named Malethorpei provided us with a prophecy that has brought us to this place." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ylauneropai stood silently for several seconds. "That was not the answer I was expecting." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you." Ylauneropai turned back to Corbyn. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn paused uncharacteristically and then shrugged. "I had hoped you might have heard a particular bit of prophecy or legend, but it appears that is not the case. Malethorpei is member of a little enclave of seers. I fear others refer to them as 'the Mad,' but I am personally uncomfortable in labeling them as such. Again, I can speak for only some those present, but my companions and I have indeed traveled a great distance over quite long period of time." He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice a fraction. "Now I feel I should ask, why do you approach us today? If you are not students of prophecies and Zioth, I am not sure how we may assist you." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ylauneropai ignored the question. "You call yourself a seeker of the Zioth. Where do you plan to find it, here in Gaping Mouth?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren really wasn't sure what they wanted to hear, or expected. And he wasn't in a terribly sharing mood right now. Surrounded as they were, his body was changing from the relaxed, plodding priest to the tense, violent survivor he had to be on occasion. He scanned the people around him, looking for a sign of their motivation or intent. Many of the Polinakas, to Halaren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seeing Halaren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "There is nowhere more private than the open. Right over that hill is a private enough spot where no one will overhear." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren stepped up. "Then by all means, let us walk to where no one will hear our discourse." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ylauneropai stopped, and looked Halaren over. "Then you come from the city after all?" He continued walking, quickly covering the distance to their destination in a bit of low, rocky ground between the hills. There were plenty of places to sit, but most of the Polinakas remained standing. "Why did you not reveal this yesterday? Why come here seeking out the secret of the Mouth, when Hreippolai, or whoever replaced her, must have answered all of your questions weeks ago?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn loped toward a small outcropping on the side of the hill, but his stride broke when Ylauneropai spoke of the Mouth and the corners of his mouth turned down. "We find ourselves in an odd circumstance. You suspect we have traveled certain roads, and I perhaps incorrectly assumed your presence here has something to do with the stories of the Zioth." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If it has a name, I do not know it. There is only one city close to here, some weeks' travel away. If you did not come from the city, then who sent you? Hreippolai is the only one I know of who could have taught you that code, the code that names you all Polinakas." | ||
+ | |||
+ | From being amused at these people not even knowing the name of their biggest nearby city, Halaren was suddenly shocked. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn raised his eyebrow. "I may see the root of some of our communication issues. You describe a city close to here, but do not know the name of the place. I do not think any of our number, excepting the Lady, have visited this particular city. Nor have we met anyone named Hreippolai. You say the city is some weeks' travel away, but we have traveled from lands much further away then the city you name. Our homelands are months, if not years in the case of some of us, from this place. We have traveled further than you can possibly imagine. We are not Polinakas and we had no intention of misleading you in that regard. On our long journey we have met other Polinakas who have spoken with us and provided us guidance in our endeavors -- studying the Zioth. One fellow in particular, Malethorpei, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ylauneropai was silent for a long time, before he said, "Tell me this prophesy." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn cleared his throat and quoted Malethorpei, | ||
+ | <div indent> | ||
+ | "Five pieces for the First Path! | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So... far... Gornorleren never said it would be so far. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Voice of the Zioth. Five pieces and the end grows closer, closer, until there is no end! Five pieces for the First Path and the end grows closer! | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The focus, the Voice is the end! Four is too many for the First Path, six is too few for the Second! The ninety-first dragon becomes the forty-fifth! | ||
+ | "The smallest is in exile! The forty-fifth dragon becomes the sixth! The pure is no more! The sixth becomes the first! The challenger concedes! The first becomes the first! The dragon perishes! The first becomes the end! There is no end! | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Five pieces for the Second Path! The ninety-first dragon becomes a boundless end! This secret is the secret!" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Most of the Polinakas didn't know what to make of it. They looked to each other for any sign of recognition. But a few, including Ylauneropai and the elder, looked shocked. The elder was the first to speak. "We will leave you be. We cannot help you, but neither will we hinder you." Ylauneropai, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn stood quickly and bowed in respect. He was not sure what to make of Ylauneropai' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I can offer no advice." | ||
+ | |||
+ | She bobbed her head politely at the elder' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren was clearly upset by the Polies' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn bowed again and watched the Polinakas leave before turning to Aldet. "Do you know the name of the city to which they were referring? We have not passed through it yet." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet paused, watching the elder' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn nodded. "Thank you. Now that we have the consent of the Polinakas, I think it is time we tend to our business in the Mouth." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet gestured in the direction of her makeshift camp, "It won't take long. Is there anyone else who will be accompanying us? We should all understand what to avoid." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Just us. Our prior companion has business elsewhere. How should we prepare?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet nodded and lowered her voice. "Yes, then we should prepare quickly. I don't think the villagers will necessarily agree with the Polies to not interfere, and they will likely recognize our destination when we make ready to enter. From what I understand, most of the villagers never travel further in than the cave entrance. Even if they are upset, they may leave us in peace until we reemerge." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Her hand moved as she to walked, implying the arch of a door, "The stories themselves agree on three major rules: 'take nothing out, leave nothing behind, disturb nothing' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn fell in behind Aldet as they walked and listened to her instructions. He wondered about her reasons for visiting the Mouth and her reaction to a violation of the rules. If a piece of the Zioth was indeed interred within the cave, it was not something Corbyn intended to leave behind. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Voss merely blinked in acknowledgement of Aldet' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Corbyn. "So, what happens if the rules are broken? If we... drop something. Or bump into something." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aldet walked quietly for a few more paces, picking nervously at the back of a glove. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, that's a relief, if they let children in!" Halaren added form behind, and smiled at her. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Her steps slowed. "There is something there that has people terrified, though. Enough that they take these precautions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn was already tightening the straps around his equipment and binding them carefully, a task that felt refreshingly familiar. He reminded himself to help the others with this activity, though Voss might remember the importance of speed and stealth from his days upon the eastern steppes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He watched Aldet as she spoke. He appreciated someone who tried to think things through, a rare quality in these days, or any days for that matter. Still, it was best not to let her get fixated on the Gaping elders' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Halaren laughed briefly in his throat from behind them. The thought of finding nothing of interest seemed a pointless hope. No, they were going to find far too much of interest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think the stories are vague enough that we may still use our own imaginations," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Corbyn quickly tightened the lower cord of the kukri sheath he bore in Tala's name, making sure it stayed tight against his thigh but could still be drawn out easily. "We should pay heed to the Gaping rules when we enter, but judge for ourselves what we find inside, unbound by the preconceptions of others. Is there something inside which is temperamental and merciless, or something lonely and misunderstood by the superstitious villagers who are the only ones who visit?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The priest tapped him on one shoulder. He smiled with excitement, and softly said, "me too," at which point he clasped the new handle issuing from his scabbard and pulled it up some inches to show him the crystal blade of a full broadsword, which now sat perfectly in its sheath, not rattling around like his replacement sword. Whether he even noted Corbyn' | ||
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